Coupling mechanism for vehicles



W. R. HUDSON. COUPLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28,19l9.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

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COUPLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILE D FEB. 28, I9I9.

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WARREN R. HUDSON, OF TROY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TROY WAGON WORKS COMPANY, OF TROY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COUPLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed February 28, 1919.

T 0 (LE to hem it may concern Be it known that I, WVARREN R. I-IUDsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupling Mechanism for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to coupling mechanism for vehicles or cars and has for its particular object to add a feature of improvement to couplings of the type disclosed in application for Letters Patent filed by Tracey E. Geiger November 10th, 1917, Ser. No. 201,273, and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

The present invention consists in providing a coupling of the type referred to with a yieldable mechanism' which will act to prevent the coupling handle from jarring upward when traveling over rough ground, thus preventing accidental uncoupling of the trailer from the leading vehicle. This feature ofrimprovement further acts to make the operation of the coupling device more automatic and, therefore, simpler and more effective in use.

Referring to the accompanying drawm s Figure 1 is a horizontal section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 showing the coupling attached to a leading vehicle, and showing the present invention applied in the form of a coil spring applied to the coupling handle;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are somewhat diagrammatic, Fig. 3 being a side elevation and Fig. 4 a plan view showing fragmentary portions of both the leading and the trailing vehicles and illustrating the range of adjustment of the coupling for uneven or rough ground.

It will be readily understood that a coupling mechanism adapted to couple trailing vehicles to automobile trucks requires a considerable range of adjustment so as to take care both of uneven ground and of negotiating curves of quite short radius, and to provide against accidental uncoupling. Thus the construction must be such that the leading vehicle may be consider- Spccification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920. Serial No. 279,867.

ably above or below the trailing vehicle and also may carry the trailing vehicle properly around curves of short radius.

Referring first to Figs. 3 and l the only port1on of the trailing vehicle there shown 1s the draft connection 1 This may be a bar of any ordinary type and at its forward end it is provided with a curved plate 2 in which a connecting pin 3 is fast. Traversed by this pin 3 and passing through an aperture 4 in the curved plate 2 is a connecting bar 5 which at its forward end is fastened to the coupling device later de scribed. If desired the connecting bar 5 may be provided with supporting strengthening pieces 6, these being fastened at their forward ends to the bar 5 and having their rearward ends traversed by the connecting pin 3.

It will be seen that the construction descr bed forms a connection by which the trailing vehicle may be readily turned, it being understood, of course, that the draft bar 1 is pivoted at some point to the trailmg vehicle and is provided with connections for turning the leading wheels thereof.

The connection of the bar 5 to the coupling device proper is-indicated in Figs. 3 and 1*. The detail construction of this coupling device will be given hereafter, but attention may be called here to the fact that as shown in Fig. 3 the leading vehicle to which the coupling mechanism is fast has a considerable range of vertical adjustment relative to the trailing vehicle. This is indicated by the dotted line construction of Fig. 3 showing positions both above and below the level of the trailing vehicle which may be assumed by the leading truck. Also in Fig. 1 the extent to which the leading vehicle carrying the coupling device may be turned relative to the trailing vehicle is indicated. The dotted line constructions show positions to the left and the right of the normal central position, this central position being, of course, the relation obtaining when the two vehicles are moving in a straight line, while the dotted line construction shows the relation existing when the vehicles are passing around a curve. It will be seen that the connecting bar 5 has at its forward end a circular eye 7 which is the portion directly attached to the coupling device proper.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the detail construction of the coupling device may be explained.

A supporting frame 8 is adaptedto be fastened to the rear end of the leading vehicle as, for example, by bolts 9 (Fig. 3) passing through the rear endof the vehicle and being held by a plate 10 inside the vehicle.

This supporting frame 8 may be an integral casting, as shown, and is provided with ears 11, these ears being duplicated both above and below, as shown in Fig. 2, and having apertures through which supporting pins 12 may pass. These pins may be headed at their upper ends, as shown, and be prevented from being withdrawn by any desired device, such, for example, as a cot ter pin. 3

Carried on these pins 12 between the upper and lower ears 11 of the supporting,

. frame 8 are two coupling jaws 13, these jaws being adapted to be brought together at abutting edges 1 1 and being shaped to surround the eye 7 of the connecting bar 5. On the side of the coupling jaws 13 toward the leading vehicle which may be termed the forward side of the jaws are curved portions 1 1 and locking portions 15. A shaft 16 passes horizontally through the supporting frame 8 and at one end is provided with a handle 17 for operating it. Fast on the shaft 16 is a locking element 17 this being above and between the forward looking projections 15 of the coupling jaws when the handle is elevated and serving when the handle 17 is depre sed to force the coupling jaws to the position of Fig. 1 and to lock them in that position. From Fig. 2 it will be seen that the locking extensions 15 of the coupling jaws do not extend as high as the shaft 16 and therefore the locking element 17 may be elevated above the highest portion of the extensions 15. When-this is done the locking extensions 15 may be moved toward each other under the locking element 17 and this movement, referring to Fig. 1, obviously opens the rearward end of the coupling jaws 13 by separating their abutting edges 1-1.

T 0 provide against accidental movement upward of the handle 17, which might re sult fromexcessive jarring of the vehicle when traveling over rough ground, and also to make the coupling action more automatic, the handle 17 is provided with a coil spring 17 which acts to hold the handle normally in the downward position with sufficient sprin tension to prevent accidental raising of the handle and uncoupling of the vehicle, and also to automatically lower the handle and lock the coupling when the coupling action takes place.

A horizontal pin 18 passed through the supporting frame 8 serves as a pivot for an operating element 19. As indicated in Fig. 1 this element projects in the rear of lugs 20 on the coupling jaws 13 and is positioned to be engaged by the eye 7 of the connecting bar 5 when the vehicles are to 7 be coupled.

In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the coupling of the two vehicles cannot be accomplished. In order to couple them the hand lever 17 is moved upwardly from its position of Fig. 3 so as to carry the locking'element 17 above the forward extensions 15 of the coupling jaws. Then the rearward ends of the jaws 13' may be separated by rocking them around the pins 12 86 so as to separate the abutting edges 14. Such movement rocks the operating arm 19 through engagement therewith of the lugs 20 of the coupling jaws. Thus the jaws are opened and the operating element 19 is moved forward at its upper end. The con necting bar 5 may then be brought to proper position and the eye 7 inserted between the coupling jaws. Of course, this is ordinarily done by backing the leading vehicle, thus moving the coupling mechanism to a connecting position with the eye 7. The relative movement of the eye 7 of the connecting bar 5, which would be toward the left in Fig. i 2, causes the eye 7 to engage the operating element 19 and rock it around its pivot pin 18. The operating element 19 engages the lugs 20 and rocks the coupling jaws so as to bring them together at their rearward ends along the abutting edges 14 and to separate their forward locking extensions 15, thus restoring the coupling parts to the position shown in Fig. 1. Then the downward movement of the locking handle 17 under the pressure exerted thereon by the spring 17 1 moves the locking plate 17 to the position of Fig. 2, thereby interposing this plate between the forward extensions 15 of the coupling jaws and locking them tightly in coupling position with the eye 7 of the connect- 11 ing bar 5 held against movement by the curved coupling jaws.

It will be seen that the construction ernployed is well adapted to accomplish the objects first stated. The coupling is simple 115 and rugged in construction, thus withstanding hard usage, being easily operated by unskilled or careless workmen, and being incapable of accidental displacement of the coupling mechanism. It has a wide range of 12 adjustment, because of the pivotal connection of the eye 7 and coupling jaws 13 and thus is adapted to uneven ground and to short. turns, without putting damaging stresses on the parts.

To aid in making the coupling connection the frame .8 may be provided with an integral portion'or apron 21. This projects rearwardly and downwardly and thus the eye 7 of the connecting bar 5 may engage 130 the apron 21 as the vehicles are moved toward each other and guide the eye upwardly into its desired position between the coupling jaws 13.

While I have shown and described certain features as constituting my invention, it will be understood that parts have been shown for purposes of illustration only, and that I do not desire to be limited to such details, as obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coupling device, the combination, with a supporting frame comprising a plate and ears projecting therefrom, of two cou pling jaws having lockin portions, parallel pins passing through said ears and on which said aws are pivoted, a locking element pivoted in said plate, and positioned to pass between the locking portions of said jaws, a

handle fast to said locking element, and a spring interposed between the supporting frame and said locking element, such spring cooperating with the locking element and acting to keep it in looking position.

2. In a coupling device, the combination, with a supporting frame comprising a plate and ears projecting therefrom, of two coupling aws having locking portions, parallel pins passing through said ears and on which said jaws are pivoted, a locking element pivoted in said plate, and positioned to pass between the locking portions of said jaws, a handle fast to said locking element, and a spring secured at one end to the frame and at the other to said handle, the'spring coacting with the locking element to automatically throw it into locking position and to maintain it in such position until the handle is reversely operated by hand.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

7 WARREN R. HUDSON. 

